[Viva] FW: Important! - Measles outbreak

[Tami S.]

From: Ross Harvey [mailto:rossh at bcpwa.org] 
Sent: April-19-10 9:25 AM
To: BCPWA Group
Subject: Important! - Measles outbreak
Importance: High

 

Dear folk,

 

            It was reported at last Friday's meeting of the Fraser Health
HIV/AIDS Task group that BC is currently experiencing an unusually heavy
measles outbreak that is expected to get a whole lot worse (see
http://www.fraserhealth.ca/about_us/media_centre/feature_articles/measles_he
alth_alert). 

 

            This is rather bad news for HIV-positive people, as measles can
manifest itself in immune-compromised individuals in ways and with a
severity that those with healthy immune systems wouldn`t normally
experience.  And, of course, it can be fatal for foetuses in the womb,
regardless of the mother`s sero-status.

 

            What`s required, if you`ve not already done so, is to secure a
set of two successive measles vaccinations (called  ``MMR``, for Mumps,
Measles and Rubella).  This is especially a good idea if you`re between 30
and 52 years of age as, apparently, it is common in this age group not to
have had the complete two-shot vaccination regime.

 

            N.B.:  If you suspect you may have measles, do not, under any
circumstances, go to a clinic or emergency ward; measles is highly
contagious, and a person with measles showing up in a public health facility
could infect numerous others there.  If you think you have measles, phone
your GP, or phone a local health facility, and make arrangements to consult
a doctor in other than the main public facilities.

 

 
Yours for one damned thing after another,

 
Ross

 

Ross Harvey

Executive Director

BC Persons With AIDS Society

1107 Seymour Street, 2nd Floor

Vancouver, BC   V6B 5S8

t. 604.893.2252

f. 604.893.2251

c.604.788.9111

1.800.994.2437

 <http://www.bcpwa.org> www.bcpwa.org

 

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